My Brother Sam Is Dead Essay

749 Words2 Pages

If one were to try to count all the wars in the history of mankind, they will surely fail. War can do things for better or worse, but one should be asked, “Might [there] have been another way, besides war, to accomplish the same end?” (Collier and Collier 211). Today even now families are separated by infighting and war just like the Meeker family. Since the dawn of humanity different generations have always fought and in times of war the fight is strengthened. Many leaders promote and sell the glory of war to get people to join the fight, but many who believed them soon realize the horrid realities of war. In My Brother Sam is Dead, although both sides of war are shown, author's Collier and Collier ultimately argue that war is futile. Today in America, people see the war zones of Syria, Iraq and Turkey with all the families torn apart and do not think twice about it but for those in the war zones the struggle to keep a family together is hard. “You don’t involve any more Meekers in this terrible war,” (Collier and Collier 149). Mrs. Meeker has already lost half of her …show more content…

“You may know principle, Sam, but I know war,” (Collier and Collier 21). Mr. Meeker is trying to tell Sam about the brutality of war because he has been through war and knows the actuality and Sam does not. Sam wants to fight, but does not know the reality of war where as Mr. Meeker does and does not want to fight. “After a few things like that you don’t give a damn for anybody but your friends anymore,” (Collier and Collier 173). Sam’s views on war have changed after he finally experiences a battle for the first time. Sam realizes that his father was right and that, “War turns men into animals,” (Collier and Collier 173). Many people still today face the grim brutal realities of war after being misled about the glories of

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